PondTunes
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2007
- Messages
- 387
This is another question that we get over and over and over again:
"Should I buy a marine grade stereo for my boat?"
The answers to this question vary a lot depending on whom you ask. In short it really depends on what your needs are.
1) Some recommend using old car stereos or stereo's pulled out from a junkyard and report great success with them. In the event one fails the cost they had invested was very minimal.
2) Others recommend buying the cheapest one you can find in a super center department store. Again cost being the main issue as it is minimal if something happens to the unit.
It seems with those who cost isn't such a big deal they will go with automotive units that have more features. The big deciding factor between prices on radios now seems to be feature driven. If you want a pretty graphic equalizer or the ability to plug in your ipod then this will cost you more than a basic unit with a simple LCD Display.
The last factor is the environment that your radio will be in. If the radio isn't marine rated it needs a waterproof enclosure to protect it from wet fingers & the elements.
So the real issue is what do you need from your radio?
1) If you need nothing but AM/FM for a little sound then look into second hand salvage radios or superstore specials.
2) If you are wanting more features such as iPod connectivity or SAT/HD Radio then you will need to look at a mid-line automotive or marine unit.
3) When pricing items try to make comparisons based on units with equal features & specifications. Comparing a $45.00 AM/FM/Tape deck to a Waterproof unit that plays DVD's is not any way an accurate comparison.
4) What chance would a non-marine unit have of failing over a marine unit? This can vary on a huge scale. Cabin cruisers with the radio inside the cabin should never get wet and an automotive radio would do just fine.. But on the other hand it would be totally foolish to try to put a non marine unit on a jet-ski.
It all really boils down to there is no perfect radio for every situation. You need to figure out exactly what you want from your radio and let that drive your decision.
"Should I buy a marine grade stereo for my boat?"
The answers to this question vary a lot depending on whom you ask. In short it really depends on what your needs are.
1) Some recommend using old car stereos or stereo's pulled out from a junkyard and report great success with them. In the event one fails the cost they had invested was very minimal.
2) Others recommend buying the cheapest one you can find in a super center department store. Again cost being the main issue as it is minimal if something happens to the unit.
It seems with those who cost isn't such a big deal they will go with automotive units that have more features. The big deciding factor between prices on radios now seems to be feature driven. If you want a pretty graphic equalizer or the ability to plug in your ipod then this will cost you more than a basic unit with a simple LCD Display.
The last factor is the environment that your radio will be in. If the radio isn't marine rated it needs a waterproof enclosure to protect it from wet fingers & the elements.
So the real issue is what do you need from your radio?
1) If you need nothing but AM/FM for a little sound then look into second hand salvage radios or superstore specials.
2) If you are wanting more features such as iPod connectivity or SAT/HD Radio then you will need to look at a mid-line automotive or marine unit.
3) When pricing items try to make comparisons based on units with equal features & specifications. Comparing a $45.00 AM/FM/Tape deck to a Waterproof unit that plays DVD's is not any way an accurate comparison.
4) What chance would a non-marine unit have of failing over a marine unit? This can vary on a huge scale. Cabin cruisers with the radio inside the cabin should never get wet and an automotive radio would do just fine.. But on the other hand it would be totally foolish to try to put a non marine unit on a jet-ski.
It all really boils down to there is no perfect radio for every situation. You need to figure out exactly what you want from your radio and let that drive your decision.
